The upper-level in North Dakota has been predominately from the northwest for the past seven to ten days. In turn, the northern plains has experiences a series of disturbances, often referred to as “Alberta Clippers” during this time frame.
The most notable was the clipper this past weekend, not so much for snow amounts as it was for the wind. The clippers expected this week will also have some wind, but the first two, the one tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday Night are not expected to have a lot of wind, but enough to make it blustery. The clipper on Sunday is a bit too far out to know for sure, but it does appear that wind may be a bigger issue with the upcoming weekend storm.
A simulation on the possible timing and track of the three “clippers” this week is presented below:
In between all these clippers will come intervals of cold air. The coldest of which should be Saturday morning when temperatures may get as cold as around -30° in northwestern Minnesota, with -10s in southeastern North Dakota and west central Minnesota and -20s possibilities in northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.
Next week looks to be transitioning to mild at least in the early part of the week ahead of yet another clipper next Tuesday followed by another by the end next week. Meaning, 5 (maybe 6) disturbances moving through this “northwest flow” is probable in the next 10-12 days.
Daryl Ritchison